“According to the CCTV report, the aircraft has entered what is referred to as ‘stable’ mass production, which is interpreted as meaning there is now a fixed, regular production rate in order to create some minimal economies of scale,” Jane’s reports.

In September, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defense announced that the J-20 has been officially commissioned into military service. The PLAAF is the second air force in the world to operate a fifth-generation fighter aircraft after the United States.

The twin-engine fighter, built by Chengdu Aerospace Corporation, is a single seat stealth fighter designed for long-range fighter missions such as attacking support aircraft including tankers with PL-12 beyond visual range air-to-air missiles (BVRAAM).

A special testing unit of the PLAAF has been flying the J-20A for over a year. As I reported in March, China Central Television (CCTV) video footage showed a number of J-20A stealth fighters flying alongside H-6K long-range bombers and Xian Y-20 large military transport aircraft participating in a military exercise.

It is unknown how many J-20 have been handed over to the PLAAF so far for testing. Estimates vary from six to 13 (eight J-20As prototypes and five low rate initial production fighter jets). According to Jane’s, the J-20 will likely enter service with the PLAAF before achieving full operational capability.

The J-20 still lacks a reliable indigenously made jet engine. As I explained last month:

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Chinese military sources have repeatedly pointed out some of the difficulties the program is still facing. “There are still a series of technical problems that need to be tackled [on the J-20], including the reliability of its WS-15 engines, [and the plane’s] control system, stealth coat and hull materials and infrared sensor,” a Chinese military official told the South China Morning Post in March.

Considerable doubts remain over the aircraft’s capabilities. “It is (…) unclear whether the J-20 can match the radar-evading capabilities of the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stealth fighter aircraft or the F-35 Lightning II fighter,” I explained previously. “Given that the aircraft apparently lacks thrust vectoring, it is likely less maneuverable than American-made fifth-generation warplanes.”

China expects to produce up to three J-20 aircraft per month once the program enters serial production. CAC plans to produce up to 100 J-20s by the end of 2020.

Authors

Contributing Author

Franz-Stefan Gady

Franz-Stefan Gady is a Columnist with The Diplomat. Follow him on Twitter.